Introduction to Thermodynamics

Common Units and Conversion Factors for Energy Analysis

Pressure
1 Pa = 1 N/m2 = 1 kg/m/s2 = 1 kg/(m s2)=110-5 bar = 1.450410-4 psia = 9.869210-6 atm
1 bar = 105 Pa = 0.98692 atm = 14.504 psia = 2088.6 lbf/ft2
1 lbf/in2 (psia) = 144 lbf/ft2 = 6894.8 Pa = 6.894810-2 bar = 0.068046 atm
1 atm = 101.325 kPa = 14.696 psia = 1.0133 bar = 2116.2 lbf/ft2
Energy
1 J = 1 Nm = 1 kg m2/s2 = 1 Ws
1 kJ = 1 kWs = 0.94783 Btu = 0.23885 kcal = 737.56 ft lbf
1 Btu = 1.0550 kJ = 0.252 kcal = 778.16 ft lbf
1 kcal = 4.1868 kJ = 3.9684 Btu = 3088.0 ft lbf
1 kWh = 3.60103 kJ = 2655.2103 ft lbf = 3412.2 Btu
1 ft lbf = 1.285110-3 Btu = 1.355810-3 kJ
1 therm = 105 Btu = 29.3 kWh = 1.05506108 J
1 eV = 1.60210-19 J
1 MTOE = 1 million tonnes of oil equivalent = 0.041015 Btu = 6.9107 BOE
1 BOE = 1 barrel of oil equivalent = 5.8106 Btu
1 gallon of gasoline = 1.24105 Btu
1 cubic foot of natural gas = 1028 Btu
Energy Rate or Power
1 W = 1 J/s
1 W = 3.4122 Btu/h = 0.85987 kcal/h = 1.3410210-3 hp = 0.73756 ft lbf/s
We = Watt of electric power
Wt = Watt of thermal power
1 Btu/h = 0.29307 W = 0.252 kcal/h = 3.9310-4 hp = 0.21616 ft lbf/s
1 kcal/h = 1.163 W = 3.9683 Btu/h = 1.559510-3 hp = 0.85778 ft lbf/s
1 hp = 550 ft lbf/s = 2544.5 Btu/h = 745.7 W
1 ton (cooling capacity) = 12,000 Btu/h = 3.5168 kW
Energy Density (Energy per Unit Mass or per Unit Mole or per Unit Area)
(Mass)
1 kJ/kg = 0.42992 Btu/lbm = 0.23885 kcal/kg = 334.55 ft lbf/lbm
(Mole)
1 kJ/kmol, 1 Btu/mol, etc.
(Rate per Area)
1 W/m2 = 0.317 Btu/(h ft2) = 0.85986 kcal/(h m2)
1 Btu/(h ft2) = 3.1546 W/m2 = 2.7125 kcal/(h m2)
1 kcal/(h m2) = 1.163 W/m2 = 0.36867 Btu/(h ft2)
Prefixes and other assorted measurements
1 megawatt = 1MW = 1106 W
1 gigawatt = 1GW = 1109 W
1 terawatt = 1 TW= 11012 W
1 petawatt = 1 PW = 11015 W
1 exawatt = 1 EW = 11018 W
1 zettaawatt = 1 ZW = 11021 W
1 yottawatt = YW = 11024 W

1 Quad Btu = 1 quadrillion Btu = 11015 Btu

1 thousand Btu = 1 MBtu = 1000 Btu
1 million Btu = 1 MMBtu = 1106 Btu
1 short ton = 1 ton = 2000 lbs
1 metric ton = 1 tonne = 2200 lbs
Btu = British thermal unit
Hp = horsepower
kWh = kilowatt hour